Tuesday, September 16, 2003

TANDBERG TV Adds Scheduling Features to Telco System

TANDBERG Television has added production and operations management software to its "Cortex" telco system management solution, which enables operators to schedule events over contribution/distribution video networks. It is designed for use over ATM networks that support Permanent Virtual Circuits (PVCs), Switched Virtual Circuits (SVCs) or over IP-based networks. The new scheduling capabilities, called "ScheduALL," is used in more than 1,000 broadcast and production facilities to optimize scheduling. http://www.tandbergtv.com http://www.schedu...

NTT Com Extends its Global IP VPN to 124 Countries

NTT Com's Global IP-VPN service is now available to 124 countries and regions using either MPLS-based connections or IPSec Tunneling. NTT Com is offering "one-stop total network management" including a backup solution and LAN device maintenance. http://www.ntt.com/release_e/news03/0009/0917.h...

NTT Develops Logical-topology Reconfigurable WDM

NTT has developed a logical-topology reconfigurable WDM system that would enable network managers to quickly change the topology of a network, such as during traffic spikes following a disaster, traffic changes due to corporate restructurings, or simply to load-balance Internet traffic. The technology, which was developed by NTT Photonics Laboratories, uses an Arrayed-Waveguide Grating (AWG) router. Multiple logical topologies, including mesh, star and ring, can be established on one AWG-STAR network by selecting a suitable wavelength. http:/...

PCTEL's Soft Access Point Software Matched to GlobespanVirata's Wi-Fi Chips

PCTEL's Segue SAM software, which creates "soft access points" using client adapters, will be incorporated with GlobespanVirata's PRISM GT (802.11g) and PRISM WorldRadio (802.11a, b & g) WLAN chipsets. The software upgrade will enable users to convert a PC with a PRISM-based client device into a fully functional access point (AP) with router capabilities. http://www.pctel....

Alcatel Moves to Virtual Factory Model for OmniSwitch Division

Alcatel has adopted a completely outsourced model for its North American enterprise networking site in Calabasas, California. As a result of this new direct order fulfillment methodology for its OmniSwitch family of data networking switches, Alcatel said its North American enterprise division has reduced inventory by more then 50%, planning time by over 75%, and material liability by 80%. Celestica is one of Alcatel's outsourcing partners. http://www.alcatel....

TI Announces 802.11a/b/g Chip for Cell Phones and PDAs

Texas Instruments introduced a new low power, compact 802.11a/b/g solution designed for mobile, battery powered devices such as cell phones and PDAs. The new device is a single-chip media access controller (MAC) and baseband processor built in a 12mm x 12mm package. The chip is already designed into several cell phones and PDAs, including Motorola's Wi-Fi/cellular dual-system phone. Sampling has been underway since June. http://www.ti.com/w...

OnFiber to Deploy Terabeam's Wireless Fiber

OnFiber Communications, which operates fiber networks in 14 major metropolitan area across the U.S., will deploy Terabeam's Gigalink gigabit Ethernet (GigE) wireless fiber system to extend its fiber optic network to serve additional customers. Terabeam's GigE Gigalink is a radio frequency (RF) product hat transmits and receives signals at 1.25 Gbps. OnFiber will use the technology to extend the reach of its fiber footprint. http://www.terabeam.com http://www.onfiber....

Level 3 Launches MPLS-based Ethernet WAN Service

Level 3 Communications introduced an enhanced wide area Ethernet service for its U.S. and European networks. The new (3)Flex Ethernet service is based on Level 3's MPLS backbone and provides two classes of service (CoS) that can be managed per virtual connection as applications require. The two classes of service are: Optimized, which is a variable bit rate service that combines a committed information rate with the ability to burst up to twice that rate; and Enhanced, an unspecified bit rate service that allows the customer to burst up to full...

Terayon's Euro-DOCSIS 2.0 Deployed by Austrian MSO

Liwest, the second largest cable television operator in Austria, is using Terayon's complete EUR-DOCSIS 2.0 cable data system. Twenty-six of Terayon's BW 3200 CMTSs have so far been deployed in Liwest's headend facilities in the area around Linz, Austria's second largest city with approximately 100,000 Liwest subscribers. Terayon's TJ 720x cable modems are being installed in customer homes. Liwest is using the platform for its "24Speed" broadband service, as well as other broadband services that are enabled by the greater two-way bandwidth of...

Octasic Introduces Integrated Media Gateway Modules for VoIP/VoATM

Octasic introduced two new PTMC form factor modules for developing VoIP and VoATM media gateways. The new modules are powered by Octasic's echo cancellation and packetization/aggregation chips. The first module (OCT9320) offers a low cost solution targeted at G.711/ADPCM voice applications such as media gateway hardware designs. This module also incorporates Octasic's advanced Packet Loss Concealment (PLC) and Spectral Comfort Noise (SCN) algorithms, further improving voice quality in packet networks. The second module (OCT9360) provides additional...

SnowShore Secures $2 Million Investment from Japan

Bell Net Corp., a Japanese systems integrator and provider of wholesale SIP services, has invested $2 million in SnowShore Networks, a developer of advanced multimedia servers. The strategic investment comes on the heels of Bell Net's deployment of SnowShore's media servers as part of its C-Asp hosted SIP services for the enterprise market. Several Japanese carriers are testing the service. Bell Net plans to deploy an array of SIP services in select Asian countries over the next 12 months. http://www.snowshore.com http://www.bnc.co...

Zarlink Introduces Single-Chip TDM-to-IP/Ethernet Packet Processors

Zarlink Semiconductor introduced a line of single-chip TDM-to-IP/Ethernet packet processors. The devices are designed for transporting up to 32 T1/E1 streams (or 1024 64-Kbps channels) using Circuit Emulation Services over Packet (CESoP). Zarlink's product line consists of three chips: 32 T1/E1 ports, eight T1/E1 ports, and four T1/E1 ports. The device supports a broad array of TDM traffic formats, including unstructured mode, structured mode, and fractional N x 64 Kbps mode.http://cesop.zarlink....

Equant Reports Flat Revenue for First Half of 2003

Equant's revenues for the first half of 2003 totaled $1.479 billion, essentially flat compared with the first half of 2002. Network services' revenues increased by 3.5% to $811 million. The company noted good demand for its flagship IP VPN product. Recently, Equant has and announced multimillion dollar contracts with APL, Electrolux, Hanjin Shipping, JT International, Kuehne and Nagel, the Swedish Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Sea Containers in conjunction with China Netcom. http://www.equant....

Legislators Debate Digital Broadcast Content Protection Proposals

"The movie industry is suffering from a loss of some $3.5 billion annually from hard-goods piracy (DVD, VCD, videotape)," said Jack Valenti, president of the Motion Picture Association of America (MPAA), and the problem of digital piracy is far more menacing. Valenti estimates that some 400,000 to 600,000 films are being pirated over the Internet each day. Speaking before the Senate Commerce, Science and Transportation Committee, Valenti called on the FCC to develop technical mandates to create a "safe environment" for digital content. The MPAA...

ADVA Unveils its Smallest-Footprint Optical Access Solution

ADVA Optical Networking introduced a new optical access solution based on Generic Framing Procedure (GFP) technology and designed to serve as a network termination device for next-generation SDH and metro WDM transport networks. The new FSP 1500, which is part of ADVA's fifth generation of products, could be used at the customer premises to aggregate up to eight LAN, storage, and voice applications on a combined STM-16 interface. The system has a rack-mountable, 1U (45 mm) shelf that uses hot-swappable, Small Form-factor Pluggable (SFP) optical...

Teradiant Introduces Traffic Manager Chips for Core, Edge, Metro

Teradiant Networks, a start-up based in San Jose, California, introduced its line-up of traffic manager chips for core, edge, metro and enterprise networking equipment. Teradiant is offering two versions of its super-pipelined traffic managers: TeraPacket TM is designed for high-density linecards in systems that utilize switch fabrics; and TeraPacket TMS is designed for high-density, single-card systems that do not require separate switch fabrics. The traffic manager chips could be used in a range of designs, from low-cost fabric-less 40Gbps...

U.S. House Extends Ban on Internet Access Taxes

The U.S. House of Representatives voted to permanently extend a ban on Internet access and traffic taxes that was due to expire in November. The Internet Tax Non-Discrimination Act (HR-49) prohibits a state and other political jurisdictions from imposing taxes on electronic commerce including all forms of Internet acess (dial-up, cable modem, DSL, satellite, wireless, or other pathways yet to be invented). The legislation was sponsored by Congressman Christopher Cox (R-CA).The legislation must still be passed by the Senate and signed by the President...